Holding device for fixing a fuel pump in a surge pot

ABSTRACT

In a device for fixing a fuel pump in a surge pot within a fuel tank, wherein the fixing device comprises a cover which, in the assembled state, sealingly closes off the surge pot, the cover includes a dome-shaped section which accommodates the top of the fuel pump such that the sound emissions from the fuel pump are suppressed to the greatest possible extent.

This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of International Application PCT/EP2004/007067 filed Jun. 30, 2004 and claiming the priority of German Application 103 30 452.5 filed Jul. 5, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a holding device for fixing a fuel pump in a surge pot within a fuel tank comprising a lid which tightly covers the surge pot when the surge pot is installed in the fuel tank.

In the case of in-tank fuel pumps of this type, noise occurs during operation which is transmitted via the wall of the pump housing and the pump head to the fuel located in the tank and via the fuel to the tank wall. This noise is undesirably noticeable, particularly when the vehicle engine is at idle. There has therefore been a trend to mount the fuel pump in the tank elastically. Such an elastically mounted pump is known from DE-A 27 35 917. However, the transmission of the pump noise to the tank wall cannot be prevented even by mounting the pump elastically in the tank since the noise is transmitted primarily via the fuel, which represents a low-damping pressure wave conductor.

A fuel supply device for supplying fuel from a storage tank is known from DE 41 42 268 A1, in which at least the cylindrical edge region of the supply unit is enclosed by an element which damps the noise generated by the supply unit. The damping element consists of a porous, open-pored sintered material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for fixing a fuel pump in a surge pot within a fuel tank, which device damps the noise emitted via the pump head in a simple and effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a device for fixing a fuel pump in a surge pot within a fuel tank, wherein the fixing device comprises a cover which, in the assembled state, sealingly closes off the surge pot, the cover is of a dome-shape and accommodates the top of the fuel pump such that the sound emissions from the fuel pump are suppressed to the greatest possible extent.

Since, in this holding device, the cover is dome-shaped the sound emissions from the pump are suppressed to the greatest possible extent. The dome according to the invention, which is located directly above the pump head, advantageously has the effect that the sound waves in the domeshaped structure, in contrast to flat surfaces, cannot interfere, that is to say they cannot be amplified.

In a particular embodiment, the dome has inlet and outlet openings. The inlet opening serves for the connection of a suction jet pump, and the outlet opening for the connection of a hose for the primary fuel pumping circuit. The two openings, together with the respective connections to the tank interior, are designed to be as airtight and sound-proof as possible.

In another embodiment, a second pump is provided in the holding device, and the cover comprises two dome-shaped formations, each with two openings.

Preferably, the cover is formed from a fuel-resistant polymer or polymer-containing material and, furthermore, the dome has a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm. Preferably the wall thickness of the dome is in the range of 2 to 5 mm. The cover has a wall thickness of at least 1 mm.

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof on the basis of the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention without the cover mounted on the fixing device, and

FIG. 2 shows a the fixing device with the cover mounted on the support structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a fixing or holding device 1 according to the invention with the lid 2 raised. The holding device serves for fixing the fuel pump 3 in a surge pot 10 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2) within a fuel tank (not shown). The surge pot also has fixing means, by way of which the holding device 1 can be locked in the pot. The holding device 1 and the lid 2, as well as the surge pot 10 consist of a fuel-resistant polymer or polymer-containing material such as polyoxymethylene (POM). The fuel pump 3 has on the one hand a ring 4, which is suitable for noise uncoupling, beneath the pump head 3′; on the other hand, the pump is also mounted in the holding device 1 by means of a noise uncoupling structure 5.

The upwardly projecting tubular structures 1′ of the holding device 1 receive the studs 2′, which are attached to the underside of the cover 2 with a defined spacing from one another at the outer circumferential area of the cover 2, by means of plugging or other engagement. The cover 2 has a dome-shaped section 6 above the pump head 3′. By muffling the fuel pump 3 with a dome 6, high-frequency airborne sound emissions from the fuel pump 3 are prevented from reaching the tank interior. The overall noise of the fuel pump 3 is thus advantageously reduced so that no more disturbing noise from the pump is heard in the vehicle. The dome 6 itself has two openings 7 which are arranged in such a way that they receive the respective connections for the primary pump operation supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine and to the suction jet pump and nonetheless ensure as air-tight and/or soundproof a connection as possible.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible to accommodate a further fuel pump (not illustrated) in the holding device 1, the cover 2 then comprising two dome-shaped formations 6, 6′, each with two openings 7, above the respective pump heads 3′. The circular raised section 6′ of the cover 2 indicates the position of the second dome-shaped formation. The further fuel pump arranged thereunder is not illustrated.

FIG. 2 shows the holding device 1 and the cover 2 in the mounted state. Some of the locking elements 8, by means of which the holding device 1 can be connected to the surge pot by means of engagement of opposite locking elements, are located on the cover 2. As a result, the fuel pump can be clamped in a central position. The locking elements (not illustrated) situated on the surge pot for retained the holding device 1 with the cover 2 disposed thereon provide, together with the cover 2, for fluid-tight and airtight and/or a soundproof cover area. 

1. A device (1) for fixing a fuel pump (3) in a surge pot (10) of a fuel tank, the device (1) comprising a cover (2) which, in the assembled state, sealingly closes off the surge pot (10), said the cover (2) having a dome-shaped cover section (6) adjacent the fuel pump (3) such that the sound emissions from the fuel pump (3) are suppressed to the greatest possible extent and not transmitted to the fuel in the fuel tank.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome-shaped cover section (6) has openings (7) forming out-let and an inlet passages for fuel lines.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second fuel pump is provided in the fixing device (1), the cover (2) comprising two dome-shaped sections (6, 6′), each with two openings (7).
 4. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover (2) is formed from a fuel-resistant polymer or polymer-containing material.
 5. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome-shaped section (6, 6′) has a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm. 